You could think, judging by their approach to music videos, that Fall Out Boy aspire to the title of ''America's Greatest Pop Commentators,'' or, at least, ''America's Greatest Pop Parodists.''

Though big in the states, minus bassist Pete Wentz , the group are unlikely hearthrobs -- by appearances singer and musical anchor Patrick Stump could easily be swapped out for The Decemberists Colin Meloy. What has taken them so far, though, must be their recognition of this. In Fall Out videos the band is mocked by hip-hop roughs, aging rock stars and chattering chimps, and their response is ''I Don't Care'' . There must also be an element of pure personality or humility: The band was able to marshall a host of guests for it's latest album ''Folie a Deux,'' from Lil' Wayne and Pharrell to Debbie Harry and Elvis Costello.

Not that you can hear it in the sound -- and it's certainly not the music, which would easily disappear in a sea of similar post-emo bands, that has propelled them so far (unless of course that is the secret to mainstream success -- heavens, that can't be true). The children of Green Day, Fall Out songs veer from All American Rejects in ''A Little Less 16 Candles'' to Maroon 5 in ''I'm a Lawyer'' and ''Tiffany Blews'' to tortured NIN light.

But back to the videos. ''It ain't a Scene,, It's an Arms Race'' references everything from ''Clockwork Orange'' to ''Spinal Tap,'' ''Use Your Illussion'' era Guns 'n' Roses to R&B/hip-hop studio dramatics; ''A Little Less 16 Candles'' has vampires, punk vampires, hip-hop vampires, and yes ''Clockwork Orange'' vampires in cahoots with vampire cops. Luckily at it its most tormented, it doesn't take itself too seriously. But it also doesn't do much more than make a collage of these silly elements. And so the title of commentator or parodist is a little too far out of reach. Instead, be satisfied with a soundtrack for a ride to the beach this summer.